Calathea plant named &#39;TWYCA0026&#39;

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT A new  Calathea  plant particularly distinguished by pink and green bracted inflorescences which are held high above the foliage, sturdy and upright growth habit, large ovate to elliptical leaves with dark green margins and broad grey-green elliptical centers, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Calathea loesenerii×Calathea roseopicta

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘TWYCA0026’ BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calathea,botanically known as Calathea loesenerii×Calathea roseopicta, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘TWYCA0026’. The newcultivar originated from a hybridization made in October 1998 in Bogor,Indonesia. The female parent was Calathea loesenerii. The male parentwas ‘Rosy’, Calathea roseopicta.

A single plant selection was chosen for further evaluation and forasexual propagation in August 2000.

The new cultivar was first propagated in December 2001 in Sebring, Fla.and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by division and tissueculture in Sebring, Fla. over two to three generations. The presentinvention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Sebring, Fla.

1. Pink and green bracted inflorescences which are high above thefoliage;

2. Sturdy and upright growth habit; and

3. Large ovate to elliptical leaves with dark green margins and broadgrey green elliptical center

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new Calathea plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows the overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliageof the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtainedby conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘TWYCA0026’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inApopka, Fla. The data were obtained in April 2006 from 12 months oldplants grown in 6-inch pots from a 13 week old tissue culture derivedolder line. The plants were grown in a greenhouse with fiberglass panelsiding with inflated double poly roof with a modine heating, fan and padcooling system . Color references are to The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart, 2001 edition.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Marantaceae.        -   Botanical name.—Calathea loesenerii×Calathea roseopicta.        -   Common name.—Calathea.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Calathea loesenerii.        -   Male parent of the initial cross.—Calathea roseopicta.-   Growth:    -   -   General.—Tropical flowering potted plant; plant is suitable            for use in shaded tropical and frost-free landscapes.        -   Time to flower.—12 months to finish flowering, starting from            a 13-week old liner from tissue culture.        -   Appropriate container.—15 cm to 20 cm pots; suitable for use            in shaded tropical landscapes.-   Plant description:    -   -   Life cycle.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Habit.—Upright, wider than tall, inverted triangle, densely            leafy; inflorensces upright and held above and among the            foliage in the center of the plant; upright whorls of leaves            arise from underground rhizome.        -   Height.—44.0 cm to 50.0 cm.        -   Spread (including flowers).—60.0 cm to 65.0 cm.        -   Root color.—RHS 199A (Dark brown); tips RHS 154C to RHS            154D.-   Branches:    -   -   Number.—8 basal branches.        -   Length.—Variable depending upon age.        -   Lateral branch diameter.—1.2 cm.-   Stems (rhizomes):    -   -   Description.—Cylindrical, round in traverse section.        -   Aspect.—Horizontal, underground rhizome becoming upturned,            vertical at Tip.        -   Strength.—Thick, tough and fibrous.        -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 3.2 cm.        -   Color.—RHS N170D tinged with RHS 182D.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, closely spaced in vertical ranks,            rosette, with one to 3 per lateral branch depending on age            of the branch.        -   Shape.—Simple, elliptical.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire, wavy.        -   Size.—Length: 18.0 cm to 24.0 cm Width: 14.0 cm to 16.3 cm.        -   Color.—Immature leaf: Upper surface: Leaf margin of RHS 146A            to RHS 147A with RHS 192A in the center; may be faintly            tinged with RHS 58A Lower surface: RHS N186C Mature leaf:            Upper surface: Leaf margin darker than but closest to RHS            147A with RHS 191B to RHS 191C in the center Lower surface:            RHS N186C.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate Color: Upper surface: Midrib: RHS            147C Primary veins: RHS 147B to RHS 147C Lower surface:            Midrib: RHS N199A tinged with RHS N186C Primary veins: RHS            N186C.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Glossy to shiny, concave between            primary veins resulting in a slightly textured look Lower            surface: Matte, dull.        -   Surface pubescence.—Absent.        -   Petiole.—Length: 23.0 cm to 30.0 cm Diameter: 0.5 cm            Texture: Smooth Color: RHS 200B flushed with RHS N186C.        -   Petiole sheath.—Encircles the rhizome and extends up the            petiole to within 10.0 cm to 15.0 cm of the base of the leaf            Color: Outside: RHS 200B to RHS N186C Inside: Smooth, shiny            RHS 147B flushed with RHS 187B.        -   Cataphylls.—Shape: Lanceolate Apex: Acute Base: Sessile,            clasping rhizome Length: 8.0 cm to 12.0 cm Diameter: 2.2 cm            Color: Outside: RHS 186C Inside: Smooth, shiny RHS 147C            flushed with RHS 187B.        -   Geniculum.—General: The orientation of the leaf to the            petiole is variable, as the geniculum bends. During the            night and early morning the geniculum is straight, and the            leaf is held nearly vertical above the foliage. During the            day, the geniculum is bent, and the leaf curves outward.            Length: 3.2 cm Diameter: 0.48 cm Color: RHS 200B flushed            with RHS N186C.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—Length: 1.2 cm Diameter: 0.35 cm.        -   Shape.—Elongated, elliptical.        -   Color.—RHS 1D (Yellow) in the center, RHS 155B at the base;            and the tip is translucent white.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—9 spikes are            present; 504 flowers and buds per plant.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Lastingness of            the flowers on the plant: Individual flowers last about one            day before shrivelling.        -   Flowering season.—Spring and fall 1 to 3 flowers may open            simultaneously per inflorescence per day over a period of            about 8 weeks.        -   Arrangement.—Inflorescence emerges from the center of the            whorl of leaves. Flowers emerge from short branch spikes            under colourful bracts atop a tall upright spike.        -   Inflorescence type.—Tall, upright, terminally bracted spike;            bracts arranged in closely spaced vertical ranks occupying            the upper 6.5 cm of the spike.        -   Inflorescence height.—52.0 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—7.5 cm from tip to tip of bracts across            top of Inflorescence.        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—56.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Form.—Tube-like.        -   General.—Self-cleaning.        -   Flowering habit.—Tips of petals and staminods emerge from            branch spikes under fertile bracts; flowers last about one            day before fading and shriveling.        -   Aspect.—Outward.        -   Shape.—Tube like; staminodes and petals curve outward.        -   Diameter.—1.5 cm across the face of the flower; tube of            flower is 0.2 cm.        -   Height.—3.0 cm.-   Flowers:    -   -   Petals.—General: 3 petals per flower; tube-like with a            translucent, delicate appearance that curves outward at the            tips Size: Length: 2.5 cm Width: 0.3 cm Shape: Narrow            elliptic Apex: Acute Margin: Entire Texture: Smooth Color:            General: Translucent white, fading from RHS 199C to RHS 199D            and becoming RHS 200A.        -   Sepals.—General: Composed of 3 sepals; translucent, pale            white, crystalline with a tube-like arrangement Shape:            Narrow elliptic to linear Apex: Acute Base: Sessile Margin:            Entire Length: 1.5 cm Width: 0.2 cm Texture: Both sides are            smooth Color: Translucent white.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 50.0 cm Diameter: 0.4 cm Angle: Straight            upright Strength: Tough flexible Texture: Coarse, dull to            matte Color: RHS 186A.        -   Bracts.—General: Terminal bracts uppermost on raceme,            subtended by fertile bracts with underlying branch spikes            Terminal bracts: Quantity: 7 Length: 4.4 cm Width: 2.0 cm            Shape: Ovate Apex: Acute Base: Sessile Margin: Entire,            smooth Color: Upper surface: Margin RHS 186B (Pink); Center            RHS 186B tinged with RHS 137A to RHS 190A Lower surface: RHS            186B to RHS 186C with RHS 186C margin Texture: Upper            surface: Smooth Lower surface: Slightly rough.        -   Fertile bracts.—Quantity: 14 Length: 2.7 cm Width: 2.8 cm            Shape: Broadly obovate Apex: Emarginate Base: Sessile            Margin: Entire, smooth Color: Upper surface: RHS 186C with            the center tinged with RHS 138B Lower surface: RHS 186B to            RHS 186C, with the center tinged with RHS 137C Texture:            Upper surface: Smooth Lower surface: Slightly rough.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Staminode.—3; thin, crystalline, delicate, with a tube-like            arrangement that is flared outward and reflexed at the tips            Shape: Two are spatulate with emarginated tips, one is short            reduced, linear, cupped Margin: Entire Length: 2.9 cm;            reduced staminode is 2.5 cm Width: 0.65 cm; reduced            staminode is 0.3 cm Texture: Smooth Color: Spatulate            staminodes are white flushed with RHS 76B to RHS 76C;            reduced staminodes are white tinged with RHS 76B to RHS 76C.        -   Stamens.—Quantity: 1 Anther shape: Lanceolate Anther length:            0.25 cm Anther width: 0.08 cm Anther color: RHS 162B Pollen            amount: Sparse Pollen color: White.        -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1 Length: 2.8 cm Stigma shape: Elliptic,            cupped Stigma color: White Style length: 2.7 cm Style            diameter: 0.1 cm Style color: White Ovary: Inferior Color:            White Length: 0.18 cm Width: 0.2 cm.-   Fruit and seed set: Has not been observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Resistance and susceptibility is    typical of the species.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘TWYCA0026’ differs from the male parent Calathea roseopicta ‘Rosy’ inthat ‘TWYCA0026’ has inflorescences that are attractive and above thefoliage while ‘Rosy’ has inconspicuous inflorescences that are wellbelow the foliage. ‘TWYCA0026’ is taller and has an upright growth habitwhile ‘Rosy’ is shorter with a spreading growth habit. ‘TWYCA0026’ haslarger leaves that are more elliptical in shape, while ‘Rosy’ hassmaller leaves that are more round in shape. Additionally, ‘TWYCA0026’has juvenile leaves that are tinged with a pinkish color, while ‘Rosyhas juvenile leaves that are intensely flushed with pink.

‘TWYCA0026’ differs from the female parent Calathea loesenerii in that‘TWYCA0026’ has leaves that are broadly elliptic with silver markingswhile C. loesenarii has leaves that are plain green. Additionally,‘TWYCA0026’ has inflorescences with greenish pink bracts while C.loesenarii has inflorescences with in pink bracts.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calathea plant as shown and describedherein.